The works of Horace : with English notes, critical and ... - Cristo Raul

EXPLANATORY NOTES. BOOK 1., ODE XVI. 287
haTing exhausted his stock of materials in the formation of other animals,
was compelled to take a part from each of them [particulam undiqve desectam],
and added it to the day which formed the primitive element of
man {principi limo). Hence the origin of anger, Prometheus having
"placed in our breast the wild rage of the lion" [insani leonis vtirtt i. e.,
msanam leonis vim). Whence Horace borrowed this legend is uncertain,
probably from some Greek poet. The creation of the human race out
of clay by Prometheus is unknown to Homer and Hesiod, and can not
be traced higher than Erinna. {Anthol. Pal., i., p. 301, ep., 352.) The
fiiflof of Prometheus, as given by Protagoras in the Platonic dialogue of
that name (p. 320), approaches veiy nearly to it.—16. Stomacho. The term
stomachus properly denotes the canal through which aliment descends
into the stomach; it is then taken to express the upper orifice of the
stomach (compare the Greek Kap6ia), and fio^illy the ventricle iu which
the food is digested. Its reference to anger or choler arises from the circumstance
of a great number of nerves being situated about the upper
orifice of the stomach, which render it very sensitive ; and fix)m thence also
proceeds the great sympathy between the stomach, head, and heart.
17-18. 17. Ira. "Angry contentions," i. «., the indulgence of angry
feelings between the brothers Atreus and Thyestea.— Thyesten exitio
gravi stravere. These words, besides containing a general allusion to the
ruined fortunes of Thyestea, have also a special reference to his having
been made to banquet, unconsciously, upon the fiesh of his own sons.—18.
Et cdtis v/rbibus, &:c. " And have been the primary cause to lofty cities
why," &c. A GrtBcism for et ultimce stet&re causes cur altte urbes fundi-
tus perirent. "And have ever been the primary cause why lofty cities
perished from their very foundations," i. e., have been utterly destroyed.
Compare, as regards the epithet uUimce, the explanation of Orelli : " ai
ultimo initio repetita, et propterea pracipua." The expression altis ur.
bibus is in accordance with the Greek, alnv TrrofiieBpov, woXi; alttevq.
The elegant use of stetere for exstitere orfuere must be noted. It cairies
with it the accompanying idea of something fixed and certain. Compare
Virgil (jUre., vii., 73S) : " Slant belli causa."
aO-27. 20. Imprimeretque muris, &c. Alluding to the custom, prevalent
among the ancients, of drawing a plough over the ground previously
occupied by the walls and buildings of a captured and rained city, and
sowing salt, as the type of barrenness, in the furrows.—22. Compesce
merUem. " Restrain thy angry feelings." Pectoris tentamitfervor. "The
glow of resentment seized." Literally, " made trial of." ,The poet lays
the blame of his injurious effusion on the intemperate feelings of youth,
which hurried him away.—24. Celeres iambos. "The rapid iambics."
The rapidity of this measure rendered it peculiarly fit to give expression
to angry feelings. Compare note on "criminosis iambis," v. 2, and also
the Epistle to the Pisos, v. 2S1.—25. Mitibus mutare tristia. " To exchange
bitter taunts for soothing strains." Mitibus, though, when rendered
into our idiom, it has the appearance of a dative, is in reality the ab-
lative, as being the instrument of exchange.—27. Recantatis opprobriis.
" My injurious expressions being recanted." Animum. " My peace of
mind."
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